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City Councilor Set To Retire

ST. MARYS — Residents in the 2nd Ward of St. Marys will have a new face representing them on city council next year.

Dennis Vossler, who has served on St. Marys City Council for 18 years, confirmed to The Evening Leader he plans to retire and will not seek re-election this year. Vossler will leave office once his term expires on Dec. 31.

“I knew this was going to be my last year,” Vossler said. “I’ve been at it for 18 years and now it’s time to let someone else take a swing at it.”

Vossler praised the work of his fellow councilors as well as city officials for keeping the city moving forward in recent years.

“It’s been a great bunch of people to work with,” Vossler said. “I’ve been around long enough that there’s a certain amount of trust among the members. It’s a good group to work with.”

Looking back on his time on council, Vossler said the development around the Miami and Erie Canal and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant stood out in his mind of key developments for the city.

“We’ve upgraded the parks,” Vossler said. “We’ve extended city services and made improvements along McKinley Road and of course all the new businesses. There’s been a lot that has happened in the last 18 years and it’s been a good run and I am sure things will keep going in the right direction.”

Vossler also offered some advice to his successor.

“Don’t come in with an agenda,” Vossler said. “Come in with an open attitude and see how things work.”

Vossler’s retirement means there will be at least three new faces on St. Marys City Council in 2013. Bill Slemmons, the 3rd Ward Councilor, and Ron Ginter, a councilor-at-large, announced their intentions to retire at the end of the year.

All seats for St. Marys City Council are up for election this year.

Candidates wishing to appear on the primary ballot must submit paperwork to the Auglaize County Board of Elections office by Feb. 6. The deadline for nonpartisan candidates seeking an office for which there is a primary election must submit paperwork by May 6. All nonpartisan candidates seeking an office for which there is not a primary election — township trustees and school boards — must submit paperwork by Aug. 7.